There are literally dozens of materials that are used for roofing and cladding with the most common being timber and PVC. But for modern architects not held back by budgetary requirements and with free reign to design something beautiful, zinc is often chosen. We have seen an up-tick in interest in zinc cladding and roofing over the last year and so we thought it would be helpful to write an article about zinc roofing and why it is becoming so popular.

Here’s five reasons zinc roofing is becoming so popular:

Zinc is a beautiful material

Zinc is a beautiful looking material – it photographs well, it compliments modern architecture and it is also available in a wide range of finishes. It’s also unmistakable; when the sun shines on it, it’s semi-matte and rather futuristic looking. Most impressively of all, zinc performs well at pitches between 5 and 90 degrees and so it’s an ideal material for buildings that have lots of curves and angles.

Zinc lasts a very long time

Zinc is a hardy material that’s completely weatherproof and less prone to damage than the likes of timber and PVC for cladding and shingle for roofing. Testament to zinc’s longevity is the fact that there are buildings across Europe with zinc roofing that’s over 100 years old, and it still performs as it did when it was new! The fact that zinc lasts a long time also means that it is a low-cost investment in the long-term.

Zinc isn’t prone to theft

Zinc is cheap to buy and it has one of the lowest scrap prices of any metal. This means it isn’t likely to be a target of thieves, who mostly target lead roofing and copper roofing. If you want a metal roof, then, zinc is a low risk material and you won’t have to worry about additional security measures to deter criminals. This is particularly important for businesses that may have to pay higher insurance premiums for their copper and lead roofs.

Zinc is highly desirable and it improves the resale value of properties

Zinc is widely available and it improves the appearance of any building, old or new. It is increasingly popular on old barn conversions and mill conversions and even some new build properties have zinc roofs nowadays. Zinc roofs are also low maintenance and combined with the fact that they look incredible they are highly desirable. Many people who go on to sell their home attribute a higher offer being down to their zinc roofing.

Zinc is good for the local environment

When rain water runs off copper and lead and stainless steel, pollutants like oxides run down into the ground below. In high concentrations, this can affect wildlife. Zinc on the other hand has no such pollutants and as such it is considered good for the local environment. Many businesses that wish to improve their green credentials have opted for zinc cladding and roofing for this very reason.